John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
Jesus had spent his earthly ministry, preaching the kingdom of God, healing the sick, casting out demons, and setting the oppressed free. Yet the will of the Father was not yet accomplished in Him. We find often that Jesus would go aside and pray; He always and completely relied upon the Father for strength and for purpose and direction.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You [will]." 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Jesus indeed built an altar in the Garden of Gethsemane. We will consider Jesus as He built his altar to surrender His own will to pursue and fulfill the will of the Father.
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are [you] still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Even while being at the altar with God the Father, Jesus was calling Peter, James, and John to watch and pray!
Mark 14:32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, [even] to death. Stay here and watch." 35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things [are] possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You [will]."
Mark identifies the intimacy between Jesus and the Father. Jesus cried out “Abba, Father”. It is wonderful we have been called into this same relationship that we might know “Abba, Father” ourselves.
Mark 14:37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." 39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. 40 And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 Then He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh weak. All twelve of the disciples had a willing spirit but all twelve of the disciple forsook Him. Something had to be done about weak flesh.
Luke 22:39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Jesus came back to heart of the issue, not My will but Yours, be done.
Luke 22:43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven and strengthened Him. Then Jesus prayed more earnestly. Luke is the only one to describe the agony of Jesus' soul. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.
Hebrews 5:6 As [He] also says in another [place]: "You [are] a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek"; 7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, [yet] He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek,"
This moment at the altar was no easy moment for our Lord. With vehement cries and tears Jesus submitted to the death of the cross. Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.
Hebrews 2:8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing [that is] not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom [are] all things and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
At the cross is where all things were made subject to the authority and power of Jesus Christ. Jesus tasted death for everyone; He became perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified [are] all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." 13 And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death; believers no longer have to live their lifetime subject to bondage.
Hebrews 2:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Jesus can come to your aid! Do you need help? There is One who is truly qualified to come to your rescue… JESUS is the One.
Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me--To do Your will, O God.' " 8 Previously saying, "Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Jesus' moment of submission to the will of the Father brought us great deliverance. The law of sin and death no longer stand against us. We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all! Praise the Lord we are free indeed.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Consider Jesus! Turn your eyes upon the one who endured. Look to the Author and Finisher of your faith. His sacrifice your redemption and eternal invitation to come to the altar!
Jesus is the faithful GodGod is good all the time!
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